Chapter 103

Abyss Soldier, a monster card that brought no small shock to the environment the moment it was released back in the day. By discarding one card from your hand, you can bounce any card on the field back to the hand; it serves as both an excellent removal effect and a way to recycle cards on your own field.

However, because it was restricted to requiring the discard of a Water-attribute monster—and Water was a niche attribute back then—plus the fact that its effect was essentially a card-disadvantage move, these numerous restrictions made it impossible to integrate into the mainstream decks of that time as a generic card.

Therefore, through the wisdom of the card-playing community, the deck known as "Abyss Control," built to maximize the potential of Abyss Soldier, was born.

As the name suggests, this is a deck that unfolds entirely with Abyss Soldier as its core. The best partner for Abyss Soldier is "Sinister Serpent," which can return to the duelist's hand from the Graveyard at the start of every turn, and it just so happens to be the niche Water attribute, perfectly providing infinite ammunition for Abyss Soldier.

Although Abyss Control was once a top-tier deck and left behind a decent track record, in the environment of that period, it was generally still classified by history as a "non-Chaos deck."

Because the Chaos decks of that year were simply too strong.

Still, Abyss Control was a top-tier deck at one point, and Fujiki You Xuan felt its current strength was quite good. Moreover, compared to the frontal suppression power of the "Dimension Slash" in Chaos decks, he felt this tactic was actually more fun.

Take right now, for example. Look, the Beetle on the opposite side is so happy it's about to scream.

Beetle Knight: "You @*%@#"

The slow-witted Beetle brother finally seems to realize the terror of the combo on the opposite side now.

On the surface, Abyss Soldier seems like just an ordinary monster that relies on card-disadvantage methods to clear the field, but in reality, there are quite a few ways to utilize it in combination.

Especially with effects like "Royal Decree" that are equally disgusting to both sides; if used properly, it can turn into a one-sided suppression to some extent, and even in terms of messing with the opponent's mentality, it becomes double critical damage.

Just like the mood of the Beetle Armored Knight at this very moment.

At first, when he saw Abyss Soldier, he was dismissive, thinking it was just a low-level small fry. But now, looking at those two things, they are simply like real reapers from the abyss, the kind that won't stop until they drag someone into the Underworld.

"Able to clear the field and open up the situation, and also able to recycle to avoid being restricted by 'Royal Decree'... what an interesting combo!"

Yugi-classmate with his usual excited face.

He felt that Fujiki You Xuan's duels could always pull off various combos that made him incredibly excited; such creative dueling was truly too interesting, and he wanted to try a round more and more.

"Damn it, don't underestimate me! My turn, draw!"

Having been frantically bounced back to his hand, the Beetle Knight's field is now as clean as a blank sheet of paper. His Life Points are down to only 400, and even if it goes to the opponent's turn, his trap methods will be sealed by that face-up "Royal Decree," and even if he summons a defensive monster, it will be bounced back to his hand by "Abyss Soldier" again.

If he doesn't get rid of those two Abyss Soldiers this turn, he's already finished.

"Activate the Spell Card 'Allure of Darkness,' draw two cards from the deck, then banish one Dark-attribute monster from your hand.

According to the spell effect, I draw from the deck!"

As the two new cards were drawn, a glimmer of spirit suddenly appeared in the Beetle's eyes.

It's here, if I have this card...

"Then, according to the effect of 'Allure of Darkness,' I banish the Dark-attribute 'Death Mosquito' from my hand."

The Beetle Knight revealed the monster card in his hand; a dark vortex appeared in mid-air, and the card was immediately sucked into it as if pulled by gravity, disappearing from sight.

"Then, I Normal Summon 'Resonance Insect'!"

【Resonance Insect, ATK 1000】

Having experienced continuous back-and-forth jumping, Resonance Insect looks a bit exhausted. Playing until now, this is already its third time landing on the field, and its effect hasn't been triggered even once.

If you drop the bug, you win.

"Spell Card 'Cocoon of Ultra Evolution'!" the Beetle Knight said, "Tribute one monster on your field to Special Summon an Insect-type monster from the deck that is one level higher than the Tributed monster.

I Tribute the Level 4 'Resonance Insect' on my field!"

Resonance Insect dissipated from the field, and a summoning vortex opened on the ground.

"Therefore, I can Special Summon a Level 5 Insect-type monster from the deck! The one I want to summon is this guy—"

"—Level 5, Millennium Scorpion!"

A giant scorpion with a pitch-black shell that looked like the essence of deep night, its surface shimmering with a faint cold light, its tail swaying with a terrifyingly massive poisonous hook.

【Millennium Scorpion, ATK 2000】

"Next, activate the effect of Resonance Insect!" the Beetle Knight said, "If this card is sent to the Graveyard from the field, add a Level 5 or higher Insect-type monster from the deck to your hand.

Add the Level 8 'Doom Dozer' from the deck to my hand!"

At the moment of searching, the Beetle Knight was almost in tears. This hellish effect finally triggered...

Things are about to get better!

"The effect of 'Doom Dozer'!" the Beetle Knight shouted, "Banish two Insect-type monsters from your Graveyard, and this card can be Special Summoned directly!

I banish 'Resonance Insect' from the Graveyard, and one 'Resonant Insect' discarded in the first turn!

Watch closely, this is the Insect-type with the strongest power bestowed upon me by God—"

"—Level 8, Doom Dozer, summon!"

The earth cracked open, its hard shell covered in sharp protrusions and gullies, its massive body broke through the ground, emitting a deafening hiss.

【Doom Dozer, ATK 2800】

"Next is the follow-up effect of 'Resonance Insect'! If this card is banished, send an Insect-type monster other than 'Resonance Insect' from the deck to the Graveyard.

I send 'Skull-Mark Ladybug' from the deck to the Graveyard."

He sent the card searched from the deck to the Graveyard. However, a golden light soon bloomed in the Graveyard zone of the Duel Disk, and a phantom of a ladybug with a skull pattern on its body appeared behind him.

"The effect of 'Skull-Mark Ladybug,' when sent to the Graveyard, gain 1000 Life Points!"

【Beetle Knight, LP 400 → LP 1400】

Having regained some health, the Beetle Knight immediately regrouped and impatiently ordered: "Battle! 'Doom Dozer' attacks 'Abyss Soldier'!"

Hurry up and send this hellish soldier away for me!

"Activate face-down card, Trap Card 'Dimensional Prison'." Fujiki You Xuan calmly flipped open a back-row card, "When an opponent's monster declares an attack, banish that monster."

The void shattered, and the dimension cracked. Doom Dozer seemed to have charged too fiercely and couldn't brake in time, crashing headlong into the other side of the dimension.

Beetle Knight: "Ahhh!!!"

Incompetent rage. JPG.

This time, instead of bouncing to the hand, it went straight to another dimension, didn't it?

Can we still play cards properly?

"Then 'Millennium Scorpion' attacks! Attack! Kill that idiot..."

This time there was no obstruction, and Millennium Scorpion's attack went through successfully. Abyss Soldier was clamped in two at the waist by the giant pincers.

【Fujiki You Xuan, LP 4000 → LP 3800】

Painless and itchy.

The attack didn't fully take effect, and there was still one Abyss Soldier left on the opponent's field.

"What a disgusting thing... but 'Millennium Scorpion' gains 500 ATK when it destroys a monster in battle.

After that, I set two cards on the field, turn end!"

【Millennium Scorpion, ATK 2000 → ATK 2500】

The Beetle Knight took a deep breath.

On the surface, next turn that hellish soldier will bounce his Millennium Scorpion, and then a direct attack will end it. The situation is overwhelmingly unfavorable for him.

However...

The Beetle Knight glanced at the two face-down cards in the back row with the corner of his eye.

He still has a glimmer of hope!

(End of chapter)